Convention & Visitors Bureau: August 2006 Tourism Report

August 2006 Tourism Report

Nelson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
August 2006 Report

Economic Development Update

Project
•   Online business directory now complete, categorized by occupation and now being updated with 2006 business license information
•   Managing the installation of historic district signage for Lovingston
•   Working with the Economic Development Authority on broadband initiatives

July Meetings
July 4 – Nelson County Fourth of July Parade
July 6 - Nelson County Fourth of July Parade
July 10 – Nellysford Planning Project
July 10 – Bicentennial Committee
July 11 – Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau
July 14 – Regional Economic Developers luncheon
July 18 – Wintergreen Resort
July 20 – Governor’s Conference on Workforce and Economic Development
July 20 – Piedmont Community College Construction Academy Conference
July 21 – Regional Destination Marketing Organization
July 26 – Small Business Development Center and Piedmont Community College
July 27 - Small Business Development Center
July 27 – VA Small Business Financing Authority
July 27 - Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau

Recruitment and Retention
Working with 2 new prospects and 2 ongoing relationships

Tourism Update
Projects
•   Working with Monticello and the Washington Redskins on a September promotion
•   Developing a framework for the 2007 Nelson County Bicentennial
•   Arranging for the installation of signage for the Watchable Wildlife program

Montebello Fish Hatchery
1197 visitors in July

Promotion and Marketing
July 12 - Stafford Parks and Recreation motorcoach tour – Waltons Mountain Museum, Lovington Café, Pharsalia, Saunders Brothers Farm Store
Nelson County will be featured in the September-October issue of Virginia Lifestyles
Oakmoor Country Inn – featured in Log Home Design magazine

Tourism Statistics
                                        Fiscal                                   Fiscal
            July 2006            YTD 2007   July 2005       YTD 2006
Phone   165                    165                479                    479
Internet 105,753            105,753       66,337                66,337
Walk In   1,444                1,444            1,612                 1,612

Taxes   June 2006        YTD 2006   June 2005       YTD 2005
Lodging   $15,070       200,118       15,037           172,310
Meals        $41,184       487,038       35,959           444,891

Media Coverage
Nelson County Times, News Advance, Daily Progress, News Virginian, magazines    Column Inches – 532 Number of articles - 10
Average open rate is $23.67 per column inch for regional papers –
Nelson County received $12,592 in advertising through print media source